Inland Empire

Courtenay Dulak Professional Community Management of California, Inc. (PCM), one of the nation’s largest property management firms, announced today that Alisa Toalson has been promoted to the position of director of community management. With six years of experience on PCM’s team, Toalson will utilize her expertise to provide superior customer care to the Inland Empire region. As director of community management, Toalson will oversee new developments in the Inland Empire and will supervise a staff of 7, including community managers and associate managers.

A Newport Beach real estate group announced construction of a 200,000-square-foot retail center that will be part of a 1-million-square-foot existing complex in the Inland Empire. The Hub, a retail center located off the San Bernardino Freeway near Tippecanoe Avenue and Harrison Street, is scheduled to open in May 2003, according to the Hopkins Real Estate Group of Newport Beach. Among the stores that will move into the complex are Sam's Club and In-N-Out Burger.

At a recent art auction at SeaPoint at Crystal Cove, Laing Luxury Homes, Coast Magazine and the Randy Higbee Gallery raised $17,250 to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County and the Inland Empire. More than 200 people attended the auction, where work by local up-and-coming artists was displayed in the model homes at Laing Luxury’s newest neighborhood. The Make-A-Wish Foundation helps grants wishes for children ages 2 ½ to 18 who are facing life-threatening illnesses.

Pedal Power business first: Thanks to the generosity of Barbara Lyon of Newport Beach, I was able to restore a fabulous, girl's mountain bike. It looks great and rides like new. If you know of a girl, 8 to 14 years old, who needs a bike but cannot afford one, please send me an e-mail at o7onthetown2005@aol.comf7. The bike is free and so is delivery anywhere in Orange County. The higher gas prices will continue to affect us all in many ways, even if you don't drive or don't really care how much you pay per gallon.

CT Realty Corp., based in Newport Beach, has sold the Baywood Villa Apartments in Corona for $55 million, setting the record for the highest price paid for an apartment community in Inland Empire history. The real estate investment and development firm sold the apartments to GTS Properties Hollywood Inc. of Rolling Hills Estates. "After the completion of our renovations and upgrades, the property became even more marketable," said Raymond A. Polverini, vice president of CT Realty.

CORONA ? The Newport Harbor Baseball Assn. Bronco All-Stars scored a combined 38 runs over two games on Saturday at the Region Tournament at Santana Park. But the worn-out pitching staff didn't quite hold up in the more-than-100-degree temperatures, and Newport Harbor was sent packing after a 24-20 afternoon loss to Inland Empire. In the morning game, Newport Harbor got by host Corona, 18-11, in another elimination contest. Newport Harbor, 16-5 in all-star competition, left the Region Tournament with its head high.

Irvine's new Habit Burger Grill helped raise more than $4,000 for three area nonprofits at fundraisers Sunday and Monday , a news release said. The Habit helped raise $1,341 for the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. of Orange County and Inland Empire, $1,991 for the Irvine High School Athletics Booster Club and $964 for Share Our Strength. All proceeds from three separate meals benefited the nonprofits, according to an earlier release. The restaurant, which officially opened last week at 14474 Culver Drive, is the chain's 68th location.

In an ironic twist of fate, what was used to help people escape danger is now being used as an escape from day-to-day life. Fire-lookouts give rangers the ability to see areas susceptible to fire, but with these sites also double as tourist ventures with awe-inspiring views in tucked away retreats that are simple, serene and secluded. HISTORY Fire lookouts were once used as the main means to discover nascent and potential fires by forest rangers. Something of a national forest relic now, fire lookouts went out of style with modern technology.

Costa Mesa-based Experian has recently made a donation of $50,000 to Mercy House, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Santa Ana that serves the homeless populations of Orange County and the Inland Empire. Mercy House was selected to receive the donation because it provides housing and comprehensive supportive services for a variety of homeless populations which includes families, adults, mothers and their children, persons living with HIV/AIDS, individuals overcoming substance addictions, and some who are disabled.

This post has been corrected, as noted below. An estimated 1,000 lobsters will fly into John Wayne Airport on Friday evening. If you cast a glance skyward, you won't notice any marine crustaceans suspended in mid-air. They will, instead, disembark from a refrigerated cargo line after departing from New York's John F. Kennedy Airport. A truck driver will intercept the wax cardboard boxes and transport the live critters to Anderson Seafoods in Anaheim, where they will be stored overnight in large tanks.

Irvine's new Habit Burger Grill helped raise more than $4,000 for three area nonprofits at fundraisers Sunday and Monday , a news release said. The Habit helped raise $1,341 for the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. of Orange County and Inland Empire, $1,991 for the Irvine High School Athletics Booster Club and $964 for Share Our Strength. All proceeds from three separate meals benefited the nonprofits, according to an earlier release. The restaurant, which officially opened last week at 14474 Culver Drive, is the chain's 68th location.

The electronic scoreboard at Redlands East Valley High will only display part of the score visiting Corona del Mar is trying to settle in the Southern California Regional Division II final of the CIF State girls’ volleyball playoffs. For this match, which begins at 7 p.m., is yet another rematch in a recent string of meetings between the two Southern Section powers, the latest being a four-game win for REV in the Southern Section Division II-AA final Nov. 21. The top-seeded Wildcats (36-3)

Courtenay Dulak Professional Community Management of California, Inc. (PCM), one of the nation’s largest property management firms, announced today that Alisa Toalson has been promoted to the position of director of community management. With six years of experience on PCM’s team, Toalson will utilize her expertise to provide superior customer care to the Inland Empire region. As director of community management, Toalson will oversee new developments in the Inland Empire and will supervise a staff of 7, including community managers and associate managers.

Costa Mesa-based Experian has recently made a donation of $50,000 to Mercy House, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Santa Ana that serves the homeless populations of Orange County and the Inland Empire. Mercy House was selected to receive the donation because it provides housing and comprehensive supportive services for a variety of homeless populations which includes families, adults, mothers and their children, persons living with HIV/AIDS, individuals overcoming substance addictions, and some who are disabled.

ENTERTAINMENT VETERANS AND LOCAL COMPANIES JOIN FORCES FOR INLAND IDOL 2009 EVENT Annual Youth Talent Competition Ramping Up There are less than three weeks before the first round of qualifying auditions for Inland Idol 2009, and things are certainly heating up! Inland Idol is an annual solo vocal competition open to Southern California youth ages 7-18 and produced in The Inland Empire. David Sidoni has just been confirmed as host for the finale. Sidoni is an actor and personality best known for his roles in TV shows such as “Roundhouse” and “Mad Libs.

Traffic is always considered one of the biggest issues for residents whenever a poll is taken in Orange County. Newport-Mesa residents are no different. Recently the Orange County Transportation Authority had three local meetings to get input from residents on seven solutions for the traffic problem along Newport Boulevard. The transportation authority was looking to shed some light on solving the problem, but in the end I think they just got a lot more heat. Discussing traffic solutions just isn’t done in polite company.

Let’s agree on this much up front. The southern end of the 55 Freeway is the poster child for abrupt endings. It’s the closest thing we have in the universe that resembles the futility of pushing BBs through an insulin syringe. On any given day, more than 100,000 rolling metal boxes, most often helmed by inattentive yahoos pressing cellphones to their ears, empty out of this train wreck of a freeway ending onto Newport Boulevard around 19th Street. Somewhere between 19th and 17th streets, more than 13,000 cars peel away to gum up the residential streets of Eastside Costa Mesa or meander their way to points on the Westside.

At a recent art auction at SeaPoint at Crystal Cove, Laing Luxury Homes, Coast Magazine and the Randy Higbee Gallery raised $17,250 to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County and the Inland Empire. More than 200 people attended the auction, where work by local up-and-coming artists was displayed in the model homes at Laing Luxury’s newest neighborhood. The Make-A-Wish Foundation helps grants wishes for children ages 2 ½ to 18 who are facing life-threatening illnesses.